Dungeon Renovation Simulator

Dungeon Renovation Simulator is a first-person simulation game set in a medieval fantasy world, where players take on the role of a diligent Goblin cleaner. Utilizing physics-based mechanics, your mission is to dive into notoriously messy dungeons, meticulously clean up the chaos, uncover valuable loot, and ultimately strive to become the ultimate dungeon master. The game offers a meditative and zen-like pacing as you bring order to dilapidated underground lairs.

Dungeon Renovation Simulator: A Broom and a Skull in the Labyrinthine Halls of Early Access

1. Introduction

In the ever-expanding tapestry of video game genres, the “simulation” has carved out a fascinating niche, transforming the mundane into the magnificent, or at least, the mechanically engaging. From farming to truck driving, the appeal often lies in meticulous detail and the satisfaction of a job well done. Dungeon Renovation Simulator, released into Early Access in April 2024, bravely steps into this arena, promising a unique blend of fantasy grime and meticulous domesticity. Developed by Giant Cat Games and published by Kodobur Games, it positions itself as a physics-based cleaning simulator set in a medieval world, where the player, a “Cursed Goblin,” must mop up the aftermath of untold mayhem.

This premise immediately evokes comparisons to genre trailblazers like Viscera Cleanup Detail, a game that found cult success in presenting the grim task of tidying up post-alien-massacre scenes. Dungeon Renovation Simulator aims to bring this macabre broom-pushing to a fantastical setting. However, as we delve into its labyrinthine depths, we’ll discover an experience that, while offering flashes of intriguing design and a solid technological foundation, ultimately struggles under the weight of its Early Access status, presenting a barebones offering that has left its nascent community with mixed feelings and unanswered questions about its future. This review will meticulously deconstruct its journey from concept to current state, analyzing its aspirations, mechanics, world, and reception to provide a comprehensive verdict on its place within the simulation landscape.

2. Development History & Context

2.1 Studio, Vision, and Team

Dungeon Renovation Simulator is the brainchild of Giant Cat Games, with Kodobur Games handling publishing duties, though Steam and Steambase also list Kodobur Games as a co-developer, suggesting a close collaboration. The development team, a relatively compact outfit of 10 core developers and 8 additional individuals receiving special thanks, reflects the indie spirit typical of many simulation titles. Key figures include Harun Yildiz (Founder & CEO) and Riza Yolacan (COO), Burak Berk Akdemir (Lead Programmer), Mert Yilmaz (Programmer), Evgenia Ponomareva (Level Designer and 3D Artist), and Ozan Yalcin (Concept Artist and UI Designer). This lean team aimed to leverage modern technology to realize an ambitious vision.

The stated vision was to create a “realistic yet enjoyable simulation” where players “step into the shoes of a ‘Cursed Goblin’ cleaner and renovator in a medieval-inspired world.” The game’s core promise revolves around “physics-based dungeon cleaning,” exploring, and reviving environments. The developers explicitly committed to an Early Access model to “work closely with the community to shape the game into the best possible experience,” with plans for significant enhancements, including co-op play, more levels, a wider variety of objects and dirt types, and the inclusion of non-playable characters (NPCs) in the full release. They initially projected a minimum six-month Early Access period to gather feedback and implement improvements.

2.2 Technological Foundation and Constraints

The game launched on April 4, 2024, exclusively on Windows, making a clear statement about its target platform. A significant aspect of its technical ambition is its reliance on Unreal Engine 5. This choice of engine is crucial, as it underpins the game’s emphasis on “Everything is Physics.” Unreal Engine 5 allowed the developers to promise an “immersive experience that goes beyond visuals,” enabling interaction with “nearly every element in the levels,” turning them into a “personal playground.” This modern engine provides the framework for the detailed object manipulation and environmental interaction central to a physics-based simulation.

Despite the advanced engine, the game’s system requirements are surprisingly modest for minimum specifications (Intel Core i5-7400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 8 GB RAM, Nvidia GTX 960 (4GB), 3 GB storage), although recommended specs jump significantly (Intel Core i7-10750H or AMD Ryzen 5 5600h, 32 GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3060 (12GB), 3 GB storage), perhaps pointing to the engine’s scalability or potential for performance optimization issues that often plague Early Access titles. The relatively small storage footprint (3GB, though some sources suggest 25-30GB for recommended) might also indicate the limited content present in the initial Early Access build.

2.3 Gaming Landscape at Release

Dungeon Renovation Simulator entered a gaming landscape already well-acquainted with the simulation genre, particularly the subgenre of “mundane task” simulators. Games like House Flipper, Train Station Renovation, and PowerWash Simulator had already proven the appeal of turning chores into engaging gameplay loops. Crucially, DRS arrived in the shadow of Viscera Cleanup Detail, a game whose unique blend of gory aftermath and meticulous cleaning had cemented its status as a cult classic. This established precedent meant DRS had both a proven market and a formidable benchmark.

Its Early Access launch strategy, while common for indie developers, placed it in a volatile space. Players are often willing to invest in unfinished games with the promise of future development, but they also expect transparent communication and consistent updates. The timing of its release, amidst a flurry of other indie titles vying for attention, demanded that DRS deliver a compelling initial experience and a clear roadmap for improvement to stand out. Its $4.99 price point aimed to be accessible, but it also implicitly signaled the game’s incomplete state.

3. Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

3.1 Plot and Character

The narrative of Dungeon Renovation Simulator is, in its Early Access state, conspicuously sparse. The official descriptions hint at a world where “a once peaceful reign has come to an end,” leaving “dungeons filled with dirt, blood, and other peculiar substances.” The player assumes the role of a “Cursed Goblin” cleaner, tasked with scrubbing away the remnants of this upheaval. Beyond this evocative setup, however, explicit plot details are largely absent. There is no overarching story arc, no clear antagonist, and no defined motivation for the goblin protagonist beyond the implicit command to clean.

This lack of character background and overarching plot stands in stark contrast to its spiritual predecessor, Viscera Cleanup Detail, which, despite its satirical tone, provided a framework of corporate employment, performance reviews (getting fired for poor work), and environmental storytelling through discarded employee logs and incident reports. In DRS, the player is simply “some henchman that is supposed to clean a dungeon from… well, some mishaps that happened before,” as one critic noted. Why the goblin is cursed, who they work for, or what the ultimate goal of the renovation is, remains largely unexplained. NPCs, intended for the full version, are currently absent, leaving the player in solitary, silent toil.

3.2 Dialogue and Environmental Storytelling

Given the absence of NPCs and explicit character interactions, dialogue is non-existent in the Early Access version of Dungeon Renovation Simulator. The game instead relies on environmental storytelling and “physics-based quests” to convey fragmented narratives. The player explores “grand dining halls” and “intriguing environments,” which, through their mess and devastation, implicitly tell tales of past events. The objective to “Unravel Mysteries” and “Discover hidden secrets” suggests a desire to infuse the cleanup with a sense of discovery.

However, a significant criticism points to the game’s failure to deliver on this promise. Unlike Viscera Cleanup Detail‘s scattered letters and lore-building collectibles, DRS offers “absolutely no collectables like the USB drives or the various letters from the (former) employees of a place.” While there are “secrets” that are “mandatory to unlock further levels,” these appear to function more as key-finding puzzles than rich narrative revelations. The environmental cues, while present, do not coalesce into a compelling or cohesive story, leaving the player to fill in the blanks, often to their own disinterest.

3.3 Underlying Themes

Despite the narrative shortcomings, certain themes resonate through the game’s concept:

• Restoration and Rebirth: The core loop of cleaning and renovating speaks to a primal human desire to bring order from chaos, to “breathe new life into these captivating medieval environments.” There’s a satisfaction in transforming a blood-soaked dungeon into a somewhat cleaner, if still gothic, space.
• Labor and Toil (and its Absurdity): The mundane nature of cleaning, contrasted with the fantastical, violent settings, creates a darkly humorous tone. The player’s identity as a “Cursed Goblin” performing janitorial duties adds a layer of satirical absurdity, transforming a traditional fantasy antagonist into a blue-collar worker. User tags like “Funny” and “Satire” underscore this thematic direction.
• Consequences and Aftermath: The game directly deals with the aftermath of unseen events. The messes are grim, featuring “non-human and animal blood and body parts,” categorized as “Moderate Violence.” This focus on the cleanup rather than the combat offers a unique perspective on the consequences of dungeon-crawling adventures, framing the hero’s mess as the goblin’s job.
• Mystery and Discovery: The promise to “Unravel Mysteries” and discover “hidden secrets” suggests themes of exploration and uncovering lore. While critically noted as underexplored, the potential for these themes exists within the game’s design.

Ultimately, Dungeon Renovation Simulator‘s narrative and thematic depth, while conceptually intriguing, are largely undeveloped in its current state. The framework is there for a compelling tale of a lowly goblin bringing order to a chaotic fantasy world, but the execution falls short, leaving players with more questions than answers and a feeling of missed opportunities.

4. Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

4.1 Core Gameplay Loops

At its heart, Dungeon Renovation Simulator is a first-person simulation game focused on meticulous cleaning and object interaction. The primary loop involves entering a messy, medieval environment and systematically removing debris and stains.

1. Cleaning: Players utilize a distinct set of “tools” to achieve their objectives:
   • Hands: Used for carrying physical debris, such as “corpse parts,” and interacting with objects like levers or keys. All items destined for disposal are taken to a “magic portal” functioning as the game’s trash bin.
   • Arcane Sucker (Skull): This unique, fantasy-themed vacuum cleaner is used to “slurp up goo as well as spider webs.” It serves as the primary tool for liquid and particulate matter cleanup.
   • Skeletal Mop: A medieval-appropriate mop for cleaning floors and walls.
   • Water Bucket: Essential for cleaning the skeletal mop itself. Without it, the mop would merely spread “gunk” around, introducing a layer of resource management (of sorts) to the cleaning process.
2. Interaction & Physics: Built with Unreal Engine 5, the game heavily emphasizes physics-based interaction. Players can “interact with virtually every object,” manipulating them by aiming, throwing, vacuuming, and mopping. This allows for a degree of “creative freedom” in how players approach the cleanup.
3. Progression & Objectives: The goal in each level is to reach a minimum cleanliness threshold, typically “at least 75% clear in both trash and dirt.” Completion of these objectives is tracked in a quest log. Progression to new levels is tied to discovering “hidden secrets” through “immersive ‘physics-based quests’.” These quests unlock doors within the “Temple Hub,” which functions as the main menu, with each new level corresponding to a room.

4.2 Combat & Pacing

Dungeon Renovation Simulator is devoid of combat. Its pacing is explicitly described as “Meditative / Zen,” focusing entirely on the systematic and methodical process of cleaning. This positions it firmly within the relaxation-oriented subgenre of simulation games, where the challenge comes from meticulousness and problem-solving rather than fast reflexes or strategic combat.

4.3 Character Progression

In its Early Access form, traditional character progression systems (like skill trees, experience points, or tool upgrades) are notably absent. The player’s “progression” is limited to unlocking new levels as cleaning tasks and hidden quests are completed. There is no sense of the “Cursed Goblin” becoming more adept or equipped over time, which can contribute to a feeling of stagnation for players expecting a deeper RPG-lite experience often associated with simulation genres.

4.4 UI & Systems: Innovations and Flaws

The game’s user interface (UI) and underlying systems present a mixed bag of innovative ideas and significant flaws:

• UI: While a quest log tracks objectives, critical UI elements like the “gauges at the upper-left side of the screen” for trash and dirt percentage are universally criticized as “always at 0% and therefore completely useless.” This bug severely undermines the player’s ability to track their progress intuitively.
• Special Vision: An acknowledged innovation is the “special vision” activated by pressing ‘G’. This highlights objects and dirt essential for progression, offering a clear advantage over Viscera Cleanup Detail‘s sometimes frustratingly imprecise detector. This feature streamlines the “wild goose chase” aspect common in cleanup sims, making the process more efficient.
• Physics-Based “Puzzles”: The game boasts “physics-based puzzles,” but these are described as rudimentary, “not any more complicated than placing two objects on top of each other.” This simplification diminishes the promised “depth to your cleaning adventures.”
• Core Cleaning Mechanics: While the concept of fantasy tools is novel, the execution suffers. Critics note that “the cleaning is not even that fun with some areas staying dirty unless you find the pixel-perfect position to stand in to hit the dirt,” indicating precision issues and potential frustrations with hit detection. The lack of variety in “types of dirt” and “objects” further contributes to repetitiveness.
• Limited Content: A major flaw highlighted by reviewers is the sheer lack of content. With “only four levels” (or five, depending on the source for Early Access), the game can be completed in “around three hours.” This brevity, coupled with an absence of side activities or collectibles, severely limits replayability and overall value, even at a low price point.
• Bugs: General “buggy” behavior is reported, reinforcing the unfinished nature of the Early Access build.

In summary, Dungeon Renovation Simulator‘s gameplay leverages the potential of Unreal Engine 5 for physics interactions and offers some smart UI solutions like the special vision. However, these positives are overshadowed by significant issues: a lack of content, underdeveloped systems, buggy UI elements, and imprecise core mechanics that fail to deliver a consistently engaging or satisfying cleaning experience, especially when compared to its genre peers.

5. World-Building, Art & Sound

5.1 Setting and Atmosphere

Dungeon Renovation Simulator establishes its setting in a “medieval-inspired world” where the aftermath of unseen chaos provides the canvas for the player’s cleaning endeavors. The game promises exploration of “dungeons filled with dirt, blood, and other peculiar substances,” leading to “grand dining halls where a once peaceful reign has come to an end.” This setup creates an immediate contrast between the fantastical, often gruesome environments and the mundane task of tidying them up.

The atmosphere is one of desolation and post-catastrophe, leaning heavily into the “gore” and “blood” tags. The presence of “non-human and animal blood and body parts” contributes to a darkly atmospheric tone, categorized as “Atmospheric” by user tags. There’s an underlying sense of dark humor or “satire” in having a “Cursed Goblin” meticulously clean up such horrific scenes. The “Temple Hub,” described as the main menu, starting point, and level selection screen, is a “strange tree in the middle of nowhere,” adding another layer of fantastical mystery to the world, suggesting a deeper, albeit currently unexplored, lore. The visual depiction is that of a “Standard fantasy castle, post massacre,” setting clear expectations for the player.

5.2 Visual Direction

The game is built with Unreal Engine 5, which allows for potentially high-fidelity visuals and intricate physics interactions. The visual direction aims for a “3D” and “Realistic” aesthetic, trying to immerse players in these “captivating medieval environments.” The art team, including Concept Artist Ozan Yalcin and 3D Artists Evgenia Ponomareva and Arda Ulkumen, is credited with working to immerse players in diverse environments. Screenshots and promotional material depict detailed, albeit messy, medieval interiors, showcasing the grime, blood, and debris players are tasked with clearing.

One specific visual feature noted is a “strong glitter effect” on “any interesting item,” which makes “it impossible to miss them.” While practical for highlighting important interactive or secret objects, it might detract from a fully immersive, naturalistic visual experience by overtly guiding the player. Overall, the game presents a coherent visual style that blends traditional fantasy aesthetics with the gruesome details of a cleanup simulator, leveraging the technical capabilities of its engine.

5.3 Sound Design

While specific details about the game’s sound design are not extensively covered in the provided materials, Steam lists “Full Audio” as a feature. In a simulation game focused on meticulous detail and immersion, sound design plays a crucial role. The sounds of vacuuming, mopping, item manipulation, and environmental ambience would be essential in conveying the tactile feedback of cleaning and reinforcing the atmosphere of a desolate, messy dungeon. The lack of critical commentary on this aspect could either indicate competent but unremarkable sound work or simply an oversight in the available reviews. Without further information, it’s difficult to gauge the impact of the game’s audio elements on the overall experience, though one can infer that appropriate soundscapes would contribute to the “Meditative / Zen” pacing and overall immersion.

6. Reception & Legacy

6.1 Critical and Commercial Reception at Launch

Dungeon Renovation Simulator launched into Steam Early Access on April 4, 2024, priced at a modest $4.99. Its initial reception has been decidedly “Mixed,” as reflected by Steam user reviews, with “49% of 51 user reviews” being positive at one point, and a Steambase Player Score of “55 / 100” based on 62 total reviews. MobyGames currently reports no critic reviews and an “n/a” Moby Score, indicating a lack of widespread professional critique.

One of the few professional reviews available, “Stalk’s Videogame Corner” from Cubic Creativity, awarded the game a 5/10, stating it “cannot recommend it even for the low price of 4.99€.” This review was particularly critical, describing the game as an “unfair” comparison to Viscera Cleanup Detail and lamenting its severe lack of content (“only four levels means that you will be done with the game in around three hours”). Other criticisms included the absence of narrative depth, side activities, and genuinely engaging “physics-based puzzles.” The review also noted functional issues such as the “completely useless” UI gauges and inconsistent dirt hit detection.

The Steam community discussions echo these sentiments. Players expressed concerns about the game being “a bit too short and buggy in some places.” A significant point of contention has been the perceived abandonment of the game by its developers. As of December 2024, players noted there hadn’t been “any updates even as of posting” since April 2024. This lack of communication and updates, especially for an Early Access title, is a critical blow to player confidence and severely impacts its ongoing reception. One player even recommended checking out a similar game, Goblin Cleanup, instead, which offers a free demo and co-op.

6.2 Evolution of Reputation

Given its recent release and Early Access status, the game’s reputation is still evolving, but the initial trajectory is concerning. Without consistent updates and developer engagement, the “Mixed” reviews could easily slide into “Mostly Negative.” The community’s discussion points toward a sentiment that the game, in its current state, is largely incomplete and potentially abandoned. This directly contradicts the developers’ stated intent for Early Access, which was to actively involve the community and use feedback for improvements. The unfulfilled promises of co-op, more levels, and NPCs are keenly felt by players.

The constant comparison to Viscera Cleanup Detail serves as both a blessing and a curse. While it helps to quickly establish DRS‘s genre and appeal, the game’s inability to match VCD‘s content depth, narrative snippets, or polished mechanics ultimately works against its reputation. It is largely seen as a less refined, less engaging alternative.

6.3 Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

As a relatively new Early Access title with a mixed reception and uncertain development future, Dungeon Renovation Simulator‘s influence on subsequent games or the industry as a whole is, as of now, minimal to non-existent. It is more accurately viewed as a follower in the established “cleanup simulator” genre rather than a trendsetter.

However, its journey does serve as a case study, albeit a negative one, for the challenges and pitfalls of the Early Access model for small indie teams. It highlights the importance of:
1. Delivering sufficient launch content: Even at a low price, a game needs enough substance to justify the purchase and engage players for more than a few hours.
2. Robust technical execution: Bugs and inconsistent mechanics, especially in core gameplay, can quickly sour the experience.
3. Active communication and consistent updates: For Early Access games, transparency and regular patches are paramount to maintaining player trust and enthusiasm. The apparent lack of dev activity post-April 2024 is a critical misstep.

In essence, Dungeon Renovation Simulator reinforces the lesson that a compelling concept and a powerful engine are not enough; sustained development, clear communication, and a polished player experience, even in Early Access, are vital for a game to carve out a lasting legacy.

7. Conclusion

Dungeon Renovation Simulator presented itself with an undeniably intriguing premise: to meld the gritty satisfaction of physics-based cleaning with the imaginative chaos of a medieval fantasy world. Playing as a “Cursed Goblin” janitor tasked with sanitizing blood-splattered dungeons held the promise of dark humor and meditative gameplay, drawing favorable comparisons to Viscera Cleanup Detail. Leveraging the powerful Unreal Engine 5, the game aimed to deliver an immersive, highly interactive experience focused on transforming neglected environments.

In its Early Access state, launched in April 2024, Dungeon Renovation Simulator unfortunately falls short of its ambitious vision. While the core concept remains appealing, and features like the “Arcane Sucker” and the skeletal mop offer a unique aesthetic, the execution is hobbled by significant shortcomings. The most glaring issues include a severe lack of content, with only a handful of levels offering a mere few hours of gameplay. The promised “physics-based puzzles” prove simplistic, and the overall narrative and world-building are conspicuously underdeveloped, lacking the environmental storytelling depth found in similar titles. Crucially, fundamental UI elements, like the progress gauges, are non-functional, and reports of buggy cleaning mechanics mar the core gameplay loop.

Perhaps the most damaging aspect has been the perceived radio silence from the development team post-launch. For an Early Access title that explicitly hinged its development on community feedback and planned updates, the apparent lack of communication and patches since April 2024 has fostered an environment of disappointment and doubt among its small player base.

Dungeon Renovation Simulator represents a fascinating, if currently unfulfilled, venture into a niche subgenre. It offers a glimpse of what could be a compelling, darkly humorous fantasy cleaner sim. However, in its current form, it is a barebones experience, plagued by technical inconsistencies and a noticeable absence of the planned features and ongoing development that are essential to the Early Access model. Without significant future updates and renewed developer engagement, Dungeon Renovation Simulator risks being remembered not for its innovative premise, but as another cautionary tale of unrealized potential in the vast, often uncertain, landscape of early access gaming. For now, it remains a concept more intriguing than its execution, and a game that is difficult to recommend in its present state, even at its modest price.